Chapter 27

Chapter 27: If I’m Not Happy, No One Gets to Be Happy!

The ancient gate creaked and slowly swung open.

A middle-aged man appeared, dressed in pure white. He wore a Dongpo hat and kept a long beard; displeasure sat plainly on his face.

“Madam,” he said, “you visit late at night. What business brings you here?”

Su Xuan Ming leaned close to Gu Nan Xi. “That’s Headmaster Wu.”

Gu Nan Xi’s eyes brightened. Headmaster Wu clearly knew who she was, yet pretended not to. A warning shot.

He wanted to press her down with status before a single word was spoken.

So this was another guardian of a spoiled brat.

“I am the mother of Su Xuan Ming,” Gu Nan Xi said evenly, “the eldest young master of Marquis Yong Chang Manor.”

She lowered her head in greeting.

Headmaster Wu lifted his chin, looking down on her. “You’ve come to apologize? Your son injured Wu Fa Tian severely. His methods were vicious. If he can show no mercy to the classmates beside him every day, how will he treat the commoners of the realm in the future? Like cattle and sheep?”

Gu Nan Xi laughed coldly inside. What a Headmaster Wu—using the authority of his position to smear Su Xuan Ming for private revenge.

He didn’t know she had already shaken half the capital, tearing the truth into the open for everyone to see.

He might silence students. He might silence guardians.

But could he silence the whole world’s mouths?

Gu Nan Xi put on a startled look and said hurriedly, “Headmaster Wu, what do you mean? It was your nephew who hurt us like this. My son only defended himself.”

Headmaster Wu’s brows shot up. His voice dripped contempt. “You foolish woman. Why aren’t you at home serving your husband and teaching your children? Why come to the academy to make trouble? I will write to Marquis Yong Chang and ask how he teaches his wife!”

The disgust in his tone was so blatant even the commoners could hear it.

Gu Nan Xi’s face fell, heavy as a slammed door.

The era’s customs were fairly open. Women could travel alone and do business, and families with means even sent daughters to girls’ schools.

Emperor Gao Zong had once said that books were not only for men—women should read too.

Yet in recent years, some scholars had twisted the Three Obediences and Four Virtues from the Book of Rites to polish their own reputations.

Headmaster Wu clearly belonged to that crowd.

If she truly lived by their twisted rules, how was Gu Nan Xi supposed to lie low and coast?

No. That poisonous wind had to be stamped out.

Gu Nan Xi lowered her head and asked humbly, “My husband is far away in the borderlands and hasn’t returned for ten years. As a woman, I often have doubts with no one to ask. Headmaster Wu, your students fill the realm. You are a teacher to the world—please enlighten me.”

Seeing the noble Marchioness bow her head, Headmaster Wu’s satisfaction swelled. “Ask.”

Gu Nan Xi’s mouth curved faintly. Then she drew the blade.

“The Book of Rites says a woman must follow the Three Obediences and Four Virtues: at home, follow her father; after marriage, follow her husband; after her husband dies, follow her son. I’ve always wondered—how should we interpret the word ‘follow’?”

Headmaster Wu’s eyes lit with greed. His theory had supporters, but it wasn’t widespread. He couldn’t become a name that lived forever like Saint Confucius.

But if he could persuade the Marchioness—use her as a wedge into the upper ranks—wouldn’t his influence spread twice as fast?

So he answered with certainty, “It means obedience. Submission…”

He hadn’t even begun his grand speech when the onlookers exploded.

They had already felt guilty when Gu Nan Xi dismissed them earlier. They had watched Headmaster Wu insult her to her face and swallowed their anger.

Now he was twisting Saint Confucius’s words to crush women into the dust. How could they tolerate it?

“Utter nonsense!” someone shouted. “Chancellor Fan taught that this ‘follow’ means burden and responsibility. Before marriage, parents bear a daughter’s living needs and raise her. After marriage, the husband bears her living and safety. After the husband dies, the son supports her!”

“That’s right!” another voice cried. “And you have two ladies in your own family. By your explanation, wouldn’t they fall into bitterness from the moment they’re born?”

“The imperial court encourages widows to remarry,” someone else added. “By your logic, if the son refuses, the mother can’t remarry?”

“Whose family doesn’t have married daughters or sisters?” a woman shouted. “If that’s what the Three Obediences and Four Virtues mean, then it’s better not to marry at all!”

The crowd roared, indignation rising like a wave.

Across the mass of bodies, Gu Nan Xi’s gaze met Censor Jiang’s. She gave a small nod.

He understood at once.

Headmaster Wu flushed, furious, and called for the academy guards to drive the crowd away.

As guards rushed forward with clubs, Gu Nan Xi stepped out quickly. “Headmaster Wu, this is my fault for stirring debate. Let’s return to the matter at hand.”

Under Censor Jiang’s calm presence—and Young Lord Li’s soothing words—the commoners quieted down.

But none of them would leave. They were afraid that once the crowd dispersed, the Marchioness would be bullied behind closed gates.

Headmaster Wu snorted and ordered the injured Wu Fa Tian brought out.

The moment Wu Fa Tian saw Su Xuan Ming and Su Yun Ting, he yanked free of the servants and charged with a swinging fist. “You sickly weakling! I’ll beat you to death!”

Wu Fa Tian was tall and sturdy, his aura fierce—but with an injury somewhere, his movements weren’t as quick as usual.

Su Yun Ting grabbed Su Xuan Ming and dodged. He screamed at the top of his lungs, “Help! A student is murdering someone in public! Headmaster, help!”

Headmaster Wu dragged his feet for a moment. When it became clear Wu Fa Tian couldn’t catch Su Xuan Ming’s brother—and was being toyed with like a monkey—he flicked a look at the guards.

They surged in.

It took five burly men to pin Wu Fa Tian down.

The crowd laughed. “With a build like a calf, how does he look badly injured?”

“Maybe he knows he’s guilty and is trying to turn the tables.”

“Who would’ve thought the headmaster’s own nephew would behave like that?”

Headmaster Wu’s face darkened in ugly blotches.

He couldn’t possibly tell everyone the injury was to Wu Fa Tian’s manhood.

How was he supposed to arrange a good marriage later? How was the Wu family supposed to continue the line?

Headmaster Wu inhaled deeply and closed his eyes, forcing himself to calm down.

When he opened them again, his reason had returned.

He realized it—he had been played. If his nephew hadn’t been hurt, he wouldn’t have been so distracted that he fell for such a simple snare.

He glanced at Censor Jiang in the crowd, then back at Gu Nan Xi, who stood there looking soft and harmless.

A cold laugh slipped out. “Marchioness… you’ve really put in the effort.”

“Of course,” Gu Nan Xi replied, matching his gaze without flinching. “This is Song Shan Academy—famous across the realm.”

Su Yun Yan looked left, then right, utterly confused.

But Su Yun Ting’s eyes were shining now, fixed on Gu Nan Xi with open admiration.

Su Xuan Ming stood silent for a moment, then his expression shifted. Understanding dawned. “So that’s it.”